20 replies to this topic

[Grizzly Bear]

Going on vacation next month. We will fly to San Jose and drive either up the coast or toward the Sierras.
California has had quite a reputation for the ID capital.
Do I need to bring multiple copies of the MC and Visa rules?
What to expect?

[GEORGE]

Going on vacation next month. We will fly to San Jose and drive either up the coast or toward the Sierras.
California has had quite a reputation for the ID capital.
Do I need to bring multiple copies of the MC and Visa rules?
What to expect?

I keep the policy in my wallet in that place "SOME" keep that EXPENSIVE CASH
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Sorry for my protection I don't show my ID

My card is signed on the back...that is all the ID I need

My license is a permit to drive a car or truck...not a credit card use permit

Sorry store policy and/or company policy does not over-ride the stated credit card policy

Would you like to see the written credit card policy in black and white

Is seeing the ID more important than the sale???
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Don't assume you will have trouble...just be a good scout and be prepared

[green2408]

Going on vacation next month. We will fly to San Jose and drive either up the coast or toward the Sierras.
California has had quite a reputation for the ID capital.
Do I need to bring multiple copies of the MC and Visa rules?
What to expect?

I live in the area and truly it seems not to be bad at all any more. I feel like it used to be 100% requiring ID and now I rarely run into it. When I do I usually feel like it's some little minimum wage person who just made it up. I just say "my card's signed" and haven't had any problem I'd say in more than a year.

[thelowpriceleader]

It depends what area you are in. In the city of San Francisco you will have few if any issues. In some of the more high crime suburbs (around Oakland) you will have a lot of problems. In many of the San Jose suburbs, I have experienced few to no ID checks. Once you hit Sacramento it will vary by neighborhood but I haven't seen it to correlate between good/bad areas. I've been in bad areas where nobody wants ID and I've been in good ones where everyone wants ID. I think things in Sacramento have eased somewhat due to violations. Once you get into the smaller towns or the sierras, expect nobody to want any ID. I'm not sure what happens up on the coast, but I wouldn't expect many problems.

[GEORGE]

You run into a business that wants the ID more than the sale...that is their problem...THEY GET NEITHER

[thelowpriceleader]

Until it gets to the point that you can't buy ANYTHING without major hassles (and this has happened to me in NorCal) because every single business wants ID AND refuses your card unless you show it. I'm not talking high dollar purchases either. I'm talking real simple stuff. I remember going to one shopping center in Sacramento. I went into the Staples and made a small purchase. ID was demanded by a clerk but was set straight by the Assistant Manager. I went next door to the Wal Mart and bought something else, one item, very small. Again, cashier demanded ID. I told the cashier I wasn't showing it and after a 5-10 minute wait the cashier came back and said "my manager's manager said you are right but I've never heard of that before about not checking ID with signed cards but you are right." While standing there waiting I watched 3 other cashiers demanding ID from every customer using a credit card. I then went over to the Shell Station in the parking lot and bought a soda. Again, I was told I must show ID. There they outright refused my card unless I would show ID. I'm not sure what they did with my soda since it was from the fountain machine and I filled it up and was trying to pay for it with my credit card. I left the Shell and went across the driveway to the In N Out Burger and bought my drink there albeit at a .20 or so higher price than the Shell Station, and was not asked for any ID.

Edited by thelowpriceleader, 30 March 2010 - 08:44 PM.

[GEORGE]

Until it gets to the point that you can't buy ANYTHING without major hassles (and this has happened to me in NorCal) because every single business wants ID AND refuses your card unless you show it. I'm not talking high dollar purchases either. I'm talking real simple stuff. I remember going to one shopping center in Sacramento. I went into the Staples and made a small purchase. ID was demanded by a clerk but was set straight by the Assistant Manager. I went next door to the Wal Mart and bought something else, one item, very small. Again, cashier demanded ID. I told the cashier I wasn't showing it and after a 5-10 minute wait the cashier came back and said "my manager's manager said you are right but I've never heard of that before about not checking ID with signed cards but you are right." While standing there waiting I watched 3 other cashiers demanding ID from every customer using a credit card. I then went over to the Shell Station in the parking lot and bought a soda. Again, I was told I must show ID. There they outright refused my card unless I would show ID. I'm not sure what they did with my soda since it was from the fountain machine and I filled it up and was trying to pay for it with my credit card. I left the Shell and went across the driveway to the In N Out Burger and bought my drink there albeit at a .20 or so higher price than the Shell Station, and was not asked for any ID.

...and I spent a whole week in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA my last trip home...literally had $0.00 cash

No issues except one place

Only one that asked was SEE'S CANDIES

I said take the signed credit card...look at the back of the card...look at your signature slip COMPARE

or

Take the $80+/- custom boxed order and trash it for all I care

They did what I said and I walked out with my candy order and my receipt

[Grizzly Bear]

Thanks for the insight green2408, lowpriceleader.

[green2408]

Thanks for the insight green2408, lowpriceleader.

Have a great trip!

[sanhima]

It depends what area you are in. In the city of San Francisco you will have few if any issues. In some of the more high crime suburbs (around Oakland) you will have a lot of problems. In many of the San Jose suburbs, I have experienced few to no ID checks. Once you hit Sacramento it will vary by neighborhood but I haven't seen it to correlate between good/bad areas. I've been in bad areas where nobody wants ID and I've been in good ones where everyone wants ID. I think things in Sacramento have eased somewhat due to violations. Once you get into the smaller towns or the sierras, expect nobody to want any ID. I'm not sure what happens up on the coast, but I wouldn't expect many problems.

This. I haven't been there in 5 years, but when I went back to settle my father's estate, 9 times out of 10 no one bothered to ask for ID.

[GEORGE]

IF THEY DO VIOLATE...JUST GET OUT YOUR POCKET SIZED NOTEBOOK...

"CAN I GET YOUR BUSINESS NAME and ADDRESS and PHONE NUMBER FOR THE VIOLATION REPORT"

[lolipop]

I have no problem showing an ID as long as they don't write down ID #

[thelowpriceleader]

They don't need to write anything. The security camera recorded everything.

[lolipop]

They don't need to write anything. The security camera recorded everything.

Are you sure? There is no way the security camera can pick up the detail of ID card

[thelowpriceleader]

Partially correct. Most modern security camera systems can pick up the details on the ID (and on your credit card...) very clearly, and this is especially easy if the two pieces are held at the right angle (pointing up, which is typically how a customer presents their card and ID or how a clerk typically holds the card and ID to make the comparison). An older system cannot pick this detail up. Not many retailers are on the older security camera systems anymore. Retailers use these cameras to investigate a number of issues that involve needing very clear zooms of small objects from a variety of angles (cash, UPC codes, eye color when you are seeking to identify a robber or shoplifter, etc.) and this is why they have upgraded the systems.

You do not know who, exactly, in the store has access to those security camera tapes. Some chains have systems where a regional manager for example can get onto his or her laptop remotely and view the tape or the recording from any given store location at any given time. This is especially dangerous in the case of a lost/stolen laptop. In any case, you can bet the management of the local store as well as the store's loss prevention employees have access to the security tape. Assuming all of these individuals are honest would be quite a leap. However, the likelihood of them going back through tapes and copying your credit card and ID information, out of the thousands of possible customers they have recorded, is also quite a leap.

But the point is, they are recording all of your information digitally. Is this different than paper records, such as writing the information down, as you alluded to? Digital records appear to be more easily accessible to more individuals than a paper record would be (the paper record would get put into a box, likely in a safe or locked storage facility, and if they had a paper record it likely has just your card number, DL number, card expiration date, and your signature). Digital records also contain much more information than the paper records (your full DL including name, date of birth, DL number, expiration of DL, address, eye color/weight/height/eye condition, card number, card expiration, card identification number...).

Again I believe the likelihood anything will happen is very low but the point is the presentation of ID is not required and it is not a practice that is benefiting anyone other than possibly someone in the store who is too lazy to produce signature copies for the 1-2 chargebacks they may get in a month.

Edited by thelowpriceleader, 07 June 2010 - 10:31 PM.

[lolipop]

Partially correct. Most modern security camera systems can pick up the details on the ID (and on your credit card...) very clearly, and this is especially easy if the two pieces are held at the right angle (pointing up, which is typically how a customer presents their card and ID or how a clerk typically holds the card and ID to make the comparison). An older system cannot pick this detail up. Not many retailers are on the older security camera systems anymore. Retailers use these cameras to investigate a number of issues that involve needing very clear zooms of small objects from a variety of angles (cash, UPC codes, eye color when you are seeking to identify a robber or shoplifter, etc.) and this is why they have upgraded the systems.

You do not know who, exactly, in the store has access to those security camera tapes. Some chains have systems where a regional manager for example can get onto his or her laptop remotely and view the tape or the recording from any given store location at any given time. This is especially dangerous in the case of a lost/stolen laptop. In any case, you can bet the management of the local store as well as the store's loss prevention employees have access to the security tape. Assuming all of these individuals are honest would be quite a leap. However, the likelihood of them going back through tapes and copying your credit card and ID information, out of the thousands of possible customers they have recorded, is also quite a leap.

But the point is, they are recording all of your information digitally. Is this different than paper records, such as writing the information down, as you alluded to? Digital records appear to be more easily accessible to more individuals than a paper record would be (the paper record would get put into a box, likely in a safe or locked storage facility, and if they had a paper record it likely has just your card number, DL number, card expiration date, and your signature). Digital records also contain much more information than the paper records (your full DL including name, date of birth, DL number, expiration of DL, address, eye color/weight/height/eye condition, card number, card expiration, card identification number...).

Again I believe the likelihood anything will happen is very low but the point is the presentation of ID is not required and it is not a practice that is benefiting anyone other than possibly someone in the store who is too lazy to produce signature copies for the 1-2 chargebacks they may get in a month.

Still not convinced about those modern security cameras can pick up detail of ID card since I flash the ID for a few second. I have hard time pick up the detail of card using HD camcorder. I review some of the security tapes, they no where near the HD quality. They are great for surveillance and monitoring purpose, but no where can pick up detail of small things.

[thelowpriceleader]

You're wrong. I've used the systems and I know what kind of zoom and image they can produce.

[lolipop]

You're wrong. I've used the systems and I know what kind of zoom and image they can produce.

Just a very few select systems have those kind of top notch camera that can pick up those details like the police or a casino. Otherwise, I don't think of any other merchants would bother investing that much in those types of expensive security camera system.

[Grizzly Bear]

Grizzly Bear, did you encounter any violating merchant to report during your trip?

Never got carded once, not even at the two hotels we stayed at. We didn't do a lot of shopping though.

[Castleton]

Never got carded once.

Good. As it should be. No one should ever be put through such nonsense.